TNS and Kantar Partner with GeoPoll in Africa

WPP sister agencies TNS and Kantar Media have partnered with emerging markets mobile survey platform GeoPoll, to deploy a new range of research products and services across Africa.

Launched in 2013, GeoPoll gathers real-time data via mobile phones from a network of more than 200 million users in emerging markets. In the past two years the company has expanded its services in Africa, opening an office in Nairobi, Kenya, and increasing its presence in South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria. Last summer, GeoPoll claims to have become the largest provider of overnight media ratings in Africa with the launch of its Media Measurement Service, currently running in Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda.

TNS will now use GeoPoll's platform and database to conduct mobile research projects across the continent, while GeoPoll will become the exclusive provider of mobile sample using its platform in key countries. In addition, the WPP firms will work with GeoPoll to expand its Media Measurement Service in certain countries in Sub Saharan Africa; and the three firms will jointly sell Kantar Media's Global TGI consumer insight tool.

Kim MacIlwaine, CEO of TNS Africa, Mediterranean & Middle East, says all the firms' African clients will benefit from the combination of GeoPoll's mobile survey technology and TNS and Kantar Media's expertise in market and media research. James Eberhard, CEO of GeoPoll and its parent company Mobile Accord, adds: 'GeoPoll has worked hard to drive increased access to quality information in Africa. We're excited to partner with TNS and Kantar Media to improve the availability of reliable, cost-effective data across Africa and look forward to expanding the partnership in the coming years.'

Web sites: www.tnsglobal.com , www.kantarmedia.com and www.geopoll.com .